Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and The Government of the Republic of Portugal on the question of Macao

National Legislative Bodies / National Authorities, Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and The Government of the Republic of Portugal on the question of Macao , 1 1987, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b51fc.html [accessed 2 August 2015]

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The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal have reviewed with satisfaction the development of the friendly relations between the two Governments and peoples since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and agreed that a proper negotiated settlement by the two Governments of the question of Macao, which is left over from the past, is conducive to the economic growth and social stability of Macao and to the further strengthening - of the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. To this end, they have, after talks between the delegations of the Governments, agreed to declare as follows:

1.The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal declare that the Macao area (including the Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island, hereinafter referred to as Macao) is Chinese territory, and that the Government of the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao with effect from 20 December 1999.

2.The Government of the People's Republic of China declares that in line with the principle of one country, two systems, the People's Republic of China will pursue the following basic policies regarding Macao:

1.In accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the People's Republic of China will establish a Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

2.The Macao Special Administrative Region will be directly under the authority of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People's Government. The Macao Special Administrative Region will be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.

3.Both the Government and the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region will be composed of local inhabitants. The chief executive will be appointed by the Central People's Government on the basis of the results of elections or consultations to be held in Macao. Officials holding principal posts will be nominated by the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region for appointment by the Central People's Government. Public servants (including police) of Chinese nationality and Portuguese and other foreign nationalities employment. Portuguese and other foreign nationals may be appointed or employed to hold certain public posts in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

4.The current social and economic systems in Macao will remain unchanged, and so will the life - style. The laws currently in force in Macao will remain basically unchanged. All rights and freedoms of the inhabitants and other persons in Macao, including those of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel and movement, of strike., of choice of occupation, of academic research, of religion and belief, of communication and the ownership of property will be ensured by law in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

5.The Macao Special Administrative Region will on it's own decide policies in the fields of culture, education, science and technology and protect cultural relics in Macao according to law. In addition to Chinese, Portuguese may also be used in organs of government and in the legislature and the courts in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

6.The Macao Special Administrative Region may establish mutually beneficial economic relations with Portugal and other countries. Due regard will be given to the economic interests of Portugal and other countries in Macao. The interests of the inhabitants of Portuguese descent in Macao will be protected by law.

7.Using the name " Macao, China ", the Macao Special Administrative Region may on it's own maintain and develop economic and cultural relations and in this context conclude agreements with states, regions and relevant international organizations. The Macao Special Administrative Region Government may on it's own issue travel documents Government may on it's own issue travel documents for entry into and exit from Macao.

8.The Macao Special Administrative Region will remain a free port and a separate customs territory in order to develop it's economic activities. There will be free flow of capital. The Macao Pataca, as the legal tender of the Macao Special Administrative Region, will continue to circulate and remain freely convertible.

9.The Macao Special Administrative Region will continue to have independent finances. The Central People's Government will not levy taxes on the Macao Special Administrative Region.

10.The maintenance of public order in the Macao Special Administrative Region will be the responsibility of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.

11.Apart from displaying the national flag and national emblem of the People's Republic of China, the Macao Special Administrative Region may use a regional flag and emblem of it's own.

12.The above-stated basic policies and the elaboration of them in Annex I to this Joint Declaration will be stipulated in a Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China by the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, and they will remain unchanged for 50 years.

3.The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal declare that, during the transitional period between the date of the entry into force of this Joint Declaration and 19 December 1999, the Government of the Republic of Portugal will be responsible for the administration of Macao. The Government of the Republic of Portugal will continue to promote the economic growth of Macao and maintain its social stability, and the Government of the People's Republic of China will give its cooperation in this connection.

4.The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal declare that in order to ensure the effective implementation of this Joint Declaration and create appropriate conditions for the transfer of government in 1999, a Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group will be set up when this Joint Declaration enters into force, and that it will be established and will function in accordance with the relevant provisions of Annex II to this Joint Declaration.

5.The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal declare that land leases in Macao and other related matters will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Annexes to this Joint Declaration.

6.The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal agree to implement all the preceding declarations and the Annexes which are a component part of the Joint Declaration.

7.This Joint Declaration and it's Annexes shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification, which shall take place in Beijing. This Joint Declaration and it's Annexes shall be equally binding.

Done in duplicate at Beijing on 1987 in the Chinese and Portuguese languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the People's Republic of China.

For the Government of the Republic of Portugal.

ANNEX I ELABORATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA OF ITS BASIC POLICIES REGARDING MACAO

The Government of the People's Republic of China elaborates the basic policies of the People's Republic of China regarding Macao as set out in paragraph 2 of the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macao as follows:

The Constitution of the People's Republic of China stipulates in Article 31 that the state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by laws enacted by the National People's Congress in the light of the specific conditions. In accordance with this Article, the People's Republic of China shall, upon the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao on 20 December 1999, establish the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China shall enact and promulgate a Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, stipulating that after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region the socialist system and socialist policies shall not be practised in the Macao Special Administrative Region and that the current social and economic systems and life-style in Macao shall remain unchanged for 50 years.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall be directly under the authority of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, and shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People's Government. The Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. The Central People's Government shall autorise the Macao Special Administrative Region to conduct on it's own those external affairs specified in Section VIII of this Annex.

The executive power of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested in the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be composed of local inhabitants. The chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be appointed by the Central People's Government on the basis of the results of elections or consultations to be held in Macao. Officials holding principal posts ( equivalent to Assistant-Secretaries, procurator-general and principal officer of the police service ) shall be nominated by the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region for appointment by the Central People's Government.

The executive authorities shall abide by the law and shall be accountable to the legislature.

The legislative power of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested in the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The legislature shall be composed of local inhabitants, and the majority of it's members shall be elected.

After the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, - the laws, decrees, administrative regulations and other normative acts previously in force in Macao shall be maintained, save for whatever therein may contravene the Basic Law or subject to any amendment by the Macao Special Administrative Region legislature.

The legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region may enact laws in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and legal procedures, and such laws shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China for the record. Laws enacted by the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region which are in accordance with the Basic Law and legal procedures shall be regarded as valid.

The legal system of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall consist of the Basic Law, the laws previously in force in Macao and the laws enacted by the Macao Special Administrative Region as above.

Judicial power in the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested in the courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The power of final adjudication shall be exercised by the court of final appeal in the Macao Special Administrative Region. The courts shall exercise judicial power independently and free from any interference, and shall be subordinated only to the law. The judges shall enjoy the immunities appropriate to the performance of their functions.

Judges of the Macao Special Administrative Region courts shall be appointed by the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region acting in accordance with the recommendation of the independent commission composed of local judges, lawyers and noted public figures. Judges shall be chosen by reference to their professional qualifications. Qualified judges of foreign nationalities may also be invited to serve as judges in the Macao Special Administrative Region. A judge may only be removed for inability to discharge the functions of his office, or for behaviour incompatible with the post he holds, by the chief executive acting in accordance with the recommendation of a tribunal appointed by the president of the court of final appeal, consisting of not fewer than three local judges. The removal of judges of the court of final appeal shall be decided upon by the chief executive in accordance with the recommendation of a review committee consisting of members of the Macao Special Administrative Region legislature. The appointment and removal of judges of the court of final appeal shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

The prosecuting authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall exercise procuratorial functions as vested by law, independently and free from any interference.

The system previously in force in Macao for appointment and removal of supporting members of the judiciary shall be maintained.

On the basis of the system previously operating in Macao, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government shall make provisions for local lawyers and lawyers from outside Macao to practise in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Central People's Government shall assist or authorise the Macao Special Administrative Region Government to make appropriate arrangements for reciprocal juridical assistance with foreign states.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall, according to law, ensure the rights and freedoms of the inhabitants and other persons in Macao as provided for by the laws previously in force in Macao, including freedom of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of demonstration, of association (e. g. to form and join non-official associations), to form and join trade unions, of travel and movement, of choice of occupation and work, of strike, of religion and belief, of education and academic research ; inviolability of the home and of communication, and the right to have access to law and court ; rights concerning the ownership of private property and of enterprises and their transfer and inheritance, and to obtain appropriate compensation for lawful deprivation paid without undue delay: freedom to marry and the right to form and raise a family freely.

The inhabitants and other persons in the Macao Special Administrative Region shall all be equal before the law, and shall be free from discrimination, irrespective of nationality, descent, sex, race, language, religion, political or ideological belief, educational level, economic status or social conditions.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall protect, according to law, the interests of residents of Portuguese descent in Macao and shall respect their customs and cultural traditions.

Religious organizations and believers in the Macao Special Administrative Region may carry out activities as before for religious purposes and within the limits as prescribed by law, and may maintain relations with religious organizations and believers outside Macao. Schools, hospitals and charitable institutions attached to religious organizations may continue to operate as before. The relationship between religious organizations in the Macao Special Administrative Region and those in other parts of the People's Republic of China shall be based on the principles of non-subordination, non-interference and mutual respect.

After the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, public servants ( including police ) of Chinese nationality and Portuguese and other foreign nationalities previously serving in Macao may all remain in employment and continue their service with pay, allowances and benefits no less favourable than before. Those of the above-mentioned public servants who have retired after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall, in accordance with regulations currently in force, be entitled to pensions and allowances on terms no less favourable than before, and irrespective of their nationality or place of residence.

The Macao Special Administrative Region may appoint Portuguese and other foreign national previously serving in the public service in Macao or currently holding Permanent Identity Cards of the Macao Special Administrative Region may also invite Portuguese and other foreign nationals holding public posts in the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be employed only in their individual capacities and shall be responsible exclusively to the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The appointment and promotion of public servants shall be on the basis of qualifications, experience and ability. Macao's previous system of employment, discipline, promotion and normal rise in rank for the public service shall remain basically unchanged.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall on it's own decide policies in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, such as policies regarding the languages of instruction ( including Portuguese ) and the system of academic qualifications and the recognition of academic degrees.

All educational institutions may remain in operation and retain their autonomy. They may continue to recruit teaching and administrative staff and use teaching materials from outside Macao. Students shall enjoy freedom to pursue their education outside the Macao to pursue their education outside the Macao Special Administrative Region shall protect cultural relics in Macao according to law.

Subject to the principle that foreign affairs are the responsibility of the Central People's Government, the Macao Special Administrative Region may on it's own, using the name " Macao, China ", maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with states, regions and relevant international or regional organizations in the appropriate fields, such as the economy, trade, finance, shipping, communications, tourism, culture, science and technology and sports. Representatives of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government may participate, as members of the delegations of the Government of the People's Republic of China, in international organizations or conferences in appropriate fields limited to states and affecting the Macao Special Administrative Region, or may attend in such other capacity as may be permitted by the Central People's Government and the organization or conference concerned, and may express their views in the name of " Macao, China ". The Macao Special Administrative Region may, using the name " Macao, China ", participate in international organizations and conferences not limited to states.

Representatives of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government may participate, as members of delegations of the Government of the People's Republic of China, in negotiations conducted by the Central People's Government at the diplomatic level directly affecting the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The application to the Macao Special Administrative Region of international agreements to which the People's Republic of China is or becomes a party shall be decided by the Central People's Government, in accordance with the circumstances of each case and the needs of the Macao Special Administrative Region and after seeking the views the People's Republic of China is not a party but which are implemented in Macao is not a party but which are implemented in Macao may remain implemented in the Macao Special Administrative Region. The Central People's Government shall, according to the circumstances and the needs, authorise or assist the Macao Special Administrative Region of other relevant international agreements.

The Central People's Government shall, in accordance with the circumstances of each case and the needs of the Macao Special Administrative Region, take steps to ensure that the Macao Special Administrative Region shall continue to retain it's status in an appropriate capacity in those international organizations in which Macao is a participant in one capacity or another, but of which the People's Republic of China is not a member.

Foreign consular and other official or semi-official missions may be established in the Macao Special Administrative Region with the approval of the Central People's Government. Consular and other official missions established in Macao by states which have established formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China may be maintained. According to the circumstances of each case, consular and other official missions in Macao of states having no formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China may either be maintained or changed to semi-official missions. States not recognised by the People's Republic of China can only establish non-govermental institutions.

The following categories of persons shall have the right of abode in the Macao Special Administrative Region and be qualified to obtain Permanent Identity Cards of the Macao Special Administrative Region:

The Chinese nationals who were born or who have ordinarily resided in Macao before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region for a continuous period of 7 years or more, and persons of Chinese nationality born outside Macao of such Chinese nationals:

The Portuguese who were born in Macao or who have ordinarily resided in Macao before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region for a continuous period of 7 years or more and who, in either case, have taken Macao as their place of permanent residence ; and

The other persons who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of 7 years or more and have taken Macao as their place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and persons under 18 years of age who were born of such persons in Macao before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Central People's Government, shall authorise the Macao Special Administrative Region Government to issue, in accordance with the law, passports of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to all Chinese nationals who hold Permanent Identity Cards of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and other documents of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to all other persons lawfully residing in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The above passports and travel documents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be valid for all states and regions and shall record the holder's right to return to the Macao Special Administrative Region.

For the purpose of travelling to and from the Macao Special Administrative Region, inhabitants of the Macao Special Administrative Region may use travel documents issued by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, or by other competent authorities of the People's Republic of China, or of this fact stated in their travel documents as evidence that the holders have the right of abode in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Entry into the Macao Special Administrative Region by inhabitants of other parts of China shall be regulated in an appropriate way.

The Macao Special Administrative Region may apply immigrations controls on entry into, stay in and departure from the Macao Special Administrative Region by persons from foreign states and regions.

Unless restrained by law, holders of valid travel documents shall be free to leave the Macao Special Administrative Region without special authorization.

The Central People's Government shall assist or authorise the Macao Special Administrative Region Government to negotiate and conclude visa abolition agreements with the states and regions concerned.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall decide it's economic and trade policies on it's own. As a free port and a separate customs territory, it shall maintain and develop economic and trade relations with all states and regions and continue to participate in relevant international organizations and international trade agreements, such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and agreements regarding international trade in textiles. Export quotas, tariff preferences and other similar arrangements obtained by the Macao Administrative Region shall be enjoyed exclusively by the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have the authority to issue it's own certificates of origin for products manufactured locally, in accordance with prevailing rules of origin.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall protect foreign investments in accordance with the law.

The Macao Special Administrative Region may, as necessary, establish official and semi-official economic and trade missions in foreign countries, reporting the establishment of such missions to the Central People's Government for the record.

After the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the monetary and financial systems previously practised in Macao shall remain basically unchanged. The Macao Special Administrative Region shall decide it's monetary and financial policies on it's own. It shall safeguard the free operation of the financial institutions and the free flow of capital within, into and out of the Macao Special Administrative Region.No exchange control policy shall be applied in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Macao Pataca, as the legal tender of the Macao Special Administrative Region, shall continue to circulate and remain freely convertible. The authority to issue Macao currency shall be vested in the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. The Macao Special Administrative Region Government may authorise designated banks to perform or continue to perform the functions of it's agents in the issuance of Macao currency. Macao currency bearing references inappropriate to the status of Macao as a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China shall be progressively replaced and withdrawn from circulation.

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall draw up on it's own it's budget and taxation policy. The Macao Special Administrative Region shall report it's budget and final accounts to the Central People's Government for the record. The Macao Special Administrative Region shall use it's financial revenues exclusively for it's own purposes and they shall not be handed over to the Central People's Government shall not levy taxes on the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Legal leases of land granted or decided upon before the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region and extending beyond 19 December 1999, and all rights in relation to such leases shall be recognised and protected according to law by the Macao Administrative Region. Land leases approved or renewed after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be dealt with in accordance with the relevant land laws and policies of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macao and create appropriate conditions for the transfer of government of Macao, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal have agreed to continue their friendly cooperation during the transitional period between the date of the entry into force of the Joint Declaration and 19 December 1999.

For this purpose, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal have agreed to set up a Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group and a Sino-Portuguese Land Group in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the Joint Declaration.

1.The Joint Group shall be an organ for liaison, consultation and exchange of information between the two Governments. It shall not interfere in the administration of Macao, nor shall it have any supervisory role over that administration.

2.The functions of the Joint Liaison Group shall be:

a)To conduct consultations on the implementation of the Joint Declaration and it's Annexes;

b)To exchange information and conduct consultations on matters relating to the transfer of government of Macao in 1999;

c)To conduct consultations on actions to be taken by the two Governments to enable the Macao Special Administrative Region to maintain and develop external economic, cultural and other relations;

d)To exchange information and conduct consultations on other subjects as may be agreed by the two sides.

Matters on which there is disagreement in the Joint Liaison Group shall be referred to the Governments for solution through consultations.

1.Each side shall designate a leader of ambassadorial rank and four other members of the group. Each side may also designate experts and supporting staff as required, whose number shall be determined through consultations.

2.The Joint Liaison Group shall be established on the entry into force of the Joint Declaration and shall work within three months after it's establishment. It shall meet in Beijing, Lisbon and Macao alternately in the first year of work. Thereafter, it shall have it's principal base in Macao. The Joint Liaison Group shall continue it's work until 1 January 2000.

3.Members, experts and supporting staff of the Joint Liaison Group shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities of such privileges and immunities as are compatible with their status.

4.The working and organizational procedures of the Joint Liaison Group shall be agreed between the two sides through consultations within the guidelines laid down in this Annex. The work of the Joint Liaison Group shall remain confidential unless otherwise agreed.

1.The two Governments have agreed that, with effect from the entry into force of the Joint Declaration, land leases in Macao and related matters shall be dealt with the following provisions:

a)Leases of land granted previously by the Portuguese Macao Government that expire before 19 December 1999, except temporary leases and leases for special purposes, may, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations currently in force, be extended for a period expiring not later than 19 December 2049, with a premium be collected.

b)From the entry into force of the Joint Declaration until 19 December 1999 and in accordance with the relevant laws of land may be granted by the Portuguese Macao Government for terms expiring not later than 19 December 2049, with a premium to be collected.

c)The total amount of new land, including fields reclaimed from the sea and undeveloped land, to be granted under Section II, paragraph 1 ( b ) of this Annex shall be limited to 20 hectares a year. The Land Group may, on the basis of the proposals of the Portuguese Macao Government, examine any change in the above-mentioned quota and make decisions accordingly.

d)From the entry into force of the Joint Declaration until 19 December 1999, all incomes obtained by the Portuguese Macao Government from granting new leases and renewing leases shall, after deduction of the average cost of land production, be shared equally between the Portuguese Macao Government and the future Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. All the income so obtained from land by the Portuguese Macao Government, including the amount of the above-mentioned deduction, shall be used for financing land development and public works in Macao. The Macao Special Administrative Region Government's share of land income shall serve as a reserve fund of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region and shall be deposited in banks incorporated in Macao and, if necessary, may be used by the Portuguese Macao Government for land development and public works in Macao during the transitional period with the endorsement of the Chinese side.

2.The Sino-Portuguese Land Group shall be an organ for handling land leases in Macao and related matters on behalf of the two Government.

3.The functions of the Land Group shall be:

a)To conduct consultations on the implementation of Section II of this Annex ;

b)To monitor the amount and terms of land granted, divisions and use of income from land granted in accordance with the provisions of Section II, paragraph I of this Annex.

c)To examine proposals of the Portuguese Macao Government for drawing on the Macao Special Administration Region Government's share of income from land and to make recommendations to the Chinese side for decision.

d)Matters on which there is disagreement in the Land Group shall be referred to the two Governments for solution through consultations.

4.Each side shall designate three members of the Land Group. Each side may also designate experts and supporting staff as required, whose number shall be determined through consultations.

5.Upon the entry into force of the Joint Declaration, the Land Group shall be established and shall have it's principal base in Macao. The Land Group shall continue it's work until 19 December 1999.

6.Members, experts and supporting staff of the Land Group shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities or other privileges and immunities or other privileges and immunities as are compatible with their status.

7.The working and organizational procedures of the Land Group shall be agreed between the two sides through consultations within the guideline laid down in this Annex.

In connection with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macao signed this days, the Government of the People's Republic of China declares:

The inhabitants in Macao who come under the provisions of the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, whether they are holders of the Portuguese travel or identity documents or not, have Chinese citizenship. Taking account of the historical background of Macao and it's realities, the competent authorities of the Government of the People's Republic of China will permit Chinese nationals in Macao previously holding Portuguese travel documents to continue to use these documents for traveling to other states and regions after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The above-mentioned Chinese nationals will not be entitled to Portuguese consular protection in the Macao Special Administrative Region and other parts of the People's Republic of China.

In connection with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the Republic of Portugal and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Macao signed this day, the Government of the Republic of Portugal declares:

In conformity with the Portuguese legislation, the inhabitants in Macao who, having Portuguese citizenship, are holders of a Portuguese passport on 19 December 1999 may continue to use it after this date. No person may acquire Portuguese citizenship as from 20 December 1999 by virtue of his or her connection with Macao.